Newburgh's Notaro vows to dish out pain

Angelo "Big Ang'' Notaro believes Friday will be his final fight. And Big Ang has a good feeling how it's going to end against Bill 'Black Panther' Baldomair (12-2) of New Haven, Conn.

KEVIN GLEASON

Angelo “Big Ang'' Notaro believes Friday will be his final fight. Meantime, Tony Stronconi, having helped polish Notaro's boxing skills, has just started a valuable training program for American veterans.

Notaro, 42, hopes to utilize Stronconi's teaching tools at the Fall Brawl, a kickboxing event at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie. Sixteen bouts are scheduled for the amateur card, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the first fight at 7. Big Ang has a good feeling how it's going to end against Muay Thai specialist Bill 'Black Panther' Baldomair (12-2).

“I don't want to make any predictions,'' Notaro said, before making one, “but there is going to be a lot of pain dished out on Friday night. Every punch I throw, I throw with velocity. Someone is going to take a nap.''

Notaro, a Town of Newburgh resident, is 13-2-1 with 10 KOs. He is quick to credit trainer/promoter John Carlo for helping condition Notaro for his ring battles. Carlo is a former boxing pro perhaps best known for celebrating his debut by knocking out Leon Spinks in the first round in 1994.

Stronconi, 58, was 32-8 as an amateur and has helped train hundreds of amateurs and pros. He has brought another element to the corner of Notaro, 5-foot-10 and 255 pounds.“He's inspiring,'' said Notaro, 3-0 under Stronconi.

A former amateur boxer, Stronconi studied under the late great Floyd Patterson in New Paltz, and met Floyd's adoptive son, Tracy Harris Patterson when THP was a pre-teen. Stronconi sparred with Harris Patterson when they were younger and helped train THP, who became a two-time world champion, for six fights late in his career. Now Stronconi is an assistant to Tracy Patterson. Their most notable fighter is Irish featherweight and Newburgh resident Patrick Hyland (27-1).

Stronconi has experienced some of his most fulfilling work since July. He began training his son-in-law, suffering the inner trauma of two tours in Iraq, which led to Stronconi spawning a program dedicated to helping veterans overcome the psychological wounds of combat. Stronconi saw his son-in-law turn around his life since he started boxing. So he converted the garage of his Fishkill home into a gym for training up to 10 amateur boxers.

“They are all doing something great with their life,'' Stronconi said. “We owe it to these guys. We really take for granted how lucky we are when you hear the stories of guys over there trying to make our lives a little better. To see it in a movie is one thing. To hear about it is something else.

“This has been the absolute best reward I've had in boxing.''

Notaro plans to help Stronconi secure a gym that would accommodate more veterans as well as other boxers. For now, Notaro and Stronconi have one final piece of unfinished ring business.

“The guy is in unbelievable condition,'' Stronconi said. “We train hard. As hard as I train Patrick, I train Ang just as hard. When Ang hits you with two, three punches, I don't see anybody standing up to that.''

Angelo Notaro won't be the only 40-and-older fighter on Friday's card. Budo Jiu-Jitsu of Otisville, Western Orange County, will send three fighters into the cage, including 40-year-old Guy Croce (0-1).

Jake Hoffman (2-0) will try to remain unbeaten, and Bobby Fischer (0-1) will go after his first win. The boys of Budo will be well represented, with more than 100 folks affiliated with the dojo purchasing tickets for the card.